🥎 FHSU drops two in Kearney

KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State is still in search of its first MIAA victory of the season after a pair of setbacks at Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday. The Tigers held slim leads early in both games, but saw the Lopers rally past in both to remain undefeated in MIAA play at 6-0 and run their win streak to 11 games overall. UNK is now 16-12 overall, while FHSU moved to 13-17 overall and 0-4 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Nebraska-Kearney 5, Fort Hays State 3
Fort Hays State held an early 1-0 lead, but a pair of two-run innings by the Lopers ultimately decided the first contest as the Tigers fell short by a pair of runs. UNK ran its win streak to 10 games.

Regan Curry opened the scoring in the game in the second inning when she drove a double to right field, scoring Madison Pierce who led off the inning with a single. However, the lead was short lived as Lyndsey Roth hit a two-run homer for the Lopers in the bottom half of the inning. The Lopers extended their lead to 4-1 an inning later when Sydney Thomason led off with a homer and Katie Gosker had an RBI single later in the inning.

The Tigers rallied back to within a run in the fifth inning when Jessica Espinoza doubled and moments later came in to score on an RBI sacrifice fly by Sara Breckbill. Madison Pierce followed with a solo home run to center field, making it 4-3. However, the Lopers picked up an insurance run in the sixth on a fielding error by the Tigers with two outs. FHSU put two runners aboard in the seventh, but could not find a way to push any runs across.

Savanah Egger threw a complete game for the Tigers. Only two of the five runs she allowed were earned as she scattered nine hits and struck out four. Kelsey Goodban went 5.0 innings in her start for the Lopers to pick up the win. She struck out six, while allowing five hits and two walks. Stacy Bott picked up a two-inning save by keeping the Tigers hitless over the final two innings, though she walked three.

Game 2: Nebraska-Kearney 7, Fort Hays State 2
Fort Hays State held the lead twice in game two, going up by a run in both the first and third innings. However, the Lopers made a late push past the Tigers with three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth.

The Tigers generated their first run on three singles in the first inning. Jessica Espinoza and Sara Breckbill hits set up an RBI single by Madison Pierce. However, the Lopers responded with a solo home run by Katie Gosker in the second to tie the game at 1-1.

The Tigers used the three-single formula once again in the third to get the lead back. Knocks from Loren Beggs and Pierce set up an RBI single by Regan Curry, putting the Tigers out in front 2-1. But in the bottom of the fourth, Gosker struck again with an RBI single to knot the game at 2-2.

The Lopers took their first lead of the game with four straight singles to open the fifth inning. The third straight single by Sydney Thomason put the Lopers on top, followed by Hailey Schaneman with a hit to make it 4-2. Later in the inning, the Lopers picked up a third run on a weak bloop RBI single from Sophia Junker. The Lopers added on to their lead in the sixth with a pair of RBI singles from Abbie Jo Gaube and Thomason, pushing their lead to five.

The Tigers notched seven of their 10 hits in the game in the first three innings. Breckbill had a three-hit game, followed by Pierce and Curry each with two. The Lopers had 13 hits in the game as six of their players had two hits.

Bailey Carlson pitched 5.0 innings for the Tigers. She surrendered all seven runs (six earned) on 12 hits and two walks. Carlson struck out two. Morgan Schmidt relieved in the sixth and struck out three Lopers in a row to end any further rally. Thomason threw the first 5.0 innings for the Lopers, allowing nine of the 10 Tiger hits. She struck out one in the winning effort. Madison Rosenthal earned a save over the final two innings by striking out three Tigers.

Fort Hays State will play a non-conference doubleheader at Northwestern Oklahoma State on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. in Alva.